Southern California -- this just in

Second woman raped during 'spiritual cleansing,' officials say

May 4, 2012 | 1:21
pm

A man charged in April with raping a woman in a Santa Ana motel room under the pretense of performing a "spiritual cleansing" involving raw eggs has been charged with sexually assaulting a second woman using the same ruse.

Alberto Flores Ramirez, 36, allegedly met his first victim on an online dating site and lured her to the Aloha Motel by telling her he could help bring her children to California from Mexico.

The victim told authorities that the man said he would perform "a spiritual cleansing on her to get rid of her negative vibes," according to the Orange County district attorney's office.

Ramirez is accused of rubbing raw eggs on the victim's body and fondling her and then sexually assaulting her. A second victim came forward after seeing reports of the first case on a Spanish-language television station, authorities said Friday.

The second women allegedly told investigators that she also was lured by promises of a "spiritual cleansing" and met the suspect at the same Santa Ana motel in February.

Ramirez, authorities said, poured ammonia on the second victim's head while she was lying on the bed, causing her to become dizzy and disoriented. He then raped her, they said.

"It's really strange and it's really unfortunate because he seems like he's preying on women that have had bad luck with men in the past or emotional issues in their lives," Deputy Dist. Atty. Whitney Bokosky said.

"They think he's going to help them," the prosecutor added.

Ramirez faces two felony counts each of forcible rape and forcible oral copulation, along with one count each of attempted forcible oral copulation and penetration by a foreign object by force. He now also faces a sentencing enhancement for sex crimes against multiple victims.

He faces a maximum sentence of 75 years to life if convicted. Authorities said they will ask that his bail be increased $100,000 to $1 million when he is arraigned Friday.